This is my first blog. It is my attempt to share with the world what I think can be useful .

I have played piano for around 3 decades, though not necessarily the same way throughout. What I have noticed is the way that song sheets and charts are presented often scare the daylights out of many pianists, especially newer ones.

I am not a piano expert nor even a professional pianist for that matter. But it has occurred to me that, by seeing chords and chord patterns as a series of numbers, one can greatly simplify the music ’scores’ and even become flexible and creative. That essentially makes playing many songs on the piano a much easier and more enjoyable task than what a lot of people think.

The postings on my blog will focus on sharing tips and tricks that make playing piano simple. I will also simplify the presentation of songs (pop songs, church songs, oldies, etc.) to a level where most people will find them easy to play on piano. I will try to use videos for illustration. Let’s see how it will go.

I will post my writings under various categories for easy navigation and searching on the blog. Please look under:

“Blah x3” - for my ramblings on anything else NOT related to piano playing

“Cheat Theories” - for my not-so-conventional theories for a fast-paced piano playing

“Cheat Tricks” - for my also not-so-conventional tricks to play and sound like a professional

“General” - for postings that I do not know how to categorize, e.g., Glossary

“Recommendations” - for piano related articles, songs or videos that I would like to recommend

“Songs” - for shortcuts to play the songs that I will attempt to play using the theories and tricks above

(updated: 2008 AUG 04) I have added two pages for easier searching and navigation. These are: “Table Of Contents” or “TOC” where you can see all titles of my postings on one page, and “Index for Songs“, where you can find on one page all the songs that I have shared my tips on.

My hope is that this will eventually grow to become a helpful platform for aspiring pianists, especially those who have little or no piano background, but would really wish to be able to sing and play at the same time. I also hope that this will be a useful platform for church pianists, to download resources and share tips & experiences.

Please feel free to leave a comment, suggestion, and whatever…

(updated: 2009 AUG 04) I have added another page called “FAQ” to answer many common questions that I have received. I hope you will find it helpful.

(updated: 2009 SEP 30) I created a Facebook account a couple of months ago. If you are keen to be a friend on FB with me, you can look me up with this name: leshmye.

(updated: 2010 APR 25) The “Song Request” page has been added to explain the process of requesting songs on this blog. Requests for songs need not be posted on this page. In fact, at the time this page was posted, I have already attended to over 250 song requests.

(updated: 2010 JUL 14) After having received quite a number of requests for notes, music sheets, etc., that I cannot provide myself, I’ve decided to add the “Forum” page with the main purpose of generating interactions among readers of this blog, so that those queries/requests may be answered by visitors to this site other than myself.

(updated: 2010 AUG 17) Made “Priority Requests” possible today for readers who wish to make an urgent song request, as currently, based on the number of songs in the queue, it will take me at least 4 months to reach a new request.

Thank you for dropping by. I hope you will be able to pick up piano playing quickly by following the guides on my blog. Please do point out to me areas that aren’t clear and need improvement, or any suggestion you have.

I got to know about this blog from ‘piano forum’. This blog is surprisingly interesting and useful.

I started learning piano 5 years ago (I am already a middle-aged adult) and is being classically trained. Recently, I started to self-learn playing piano by chords. I’m always amazed to see my friends playing music by ear. Wish there are more tips on this area.

Hi Honeylet,
Thanks for dropping by.
This is what exactly I set out to do, i.e., to help those who are keen to learn playing piano by ear by sharing my own way of playing, and to make it as simple as possible. My ‘cheat’ theory tries to help one play by using as few chords as possible. One can actually improvise many chords using 3 basic chords.
You can learn by going through my ‘Cheat Theories’ category of postings (browse in the order by dates of posting). Those posts in the ‘Cheat Tricks’ category are useful too. You will find that the posts refer to one another through hyperlinks.
If there is any song or any specific area you would like me to help you with, please let me know.
Les

I would like to share with as many people who find it useful as possible. Perhaps you can help me with that by introducing this blog to your friends? Thanks heaps!
Do let me know if there are any songs I should include on my “Index of Songs”.

Thank you so much for creating this blog. This is a blessing to us who don’t know how to play piano, but would love to try it out quickly to enjoy it every now and then. This is great! Please keep updating the blog.

I can see that you are into Christian music, too. I happen to be a Christian~~ This is awesome!

hey, i think if u would be able to upload songs by jay chou would be good! especially “wo bu pei”, “cai hong” , “ge qian”, and the latest “gei wo yi shou ge de shi jian”! ur kindness is much appreciated!

Hi jian long,
I have tried to reach you through your email but the delivery failed for some reasons. Anyway, just want to let you know that I have just posted 我不配 by 周杰倫. Please do check it out.
Cheers!
Les

appreciate all this sharing! your videos are great for people like us, beginners. I just pick up on pop piano classes. Hope with your sharing, i can improve even faster!

May i have two request?
1. Can you also teach us to play or act like the fingering more professionally please? hehe. for learning, it is good. but for playing outside, it is not so presentable. So sorry about it.

2. Can you also add in the scores(if you have) for us to learn with too?

Hi Rey,
Thank you for your comments.
There are pros and cons in playing with full chords. I did that with my earlier videos, but later found it difficult to see the notes I pressed clearly as a viewer. Besides, there are probably tons of other videos already teaching how to do that, so I decided to do it differently, and cater to those who appreciate simplicity. Similarly, scores and notes can probably be found or bought on the Internet, so I think I need not cater for that. Besides, I aim to cater for those who do not read notes and yet would like to play piano. I do not have any of the notes or chords. I just listen, then I play, then I forget… Les

Hi Les,
Initially I do not like to read scores too, but due to my classes which I am under-going now, teaches me or rather, forces me to read scores. I’m still learning…:)
My aim is to play chords and sing! After that, to be able to compose of my own songs.
Anyway, thanks for your reply. Will support your work and sharing!

Hi Wei Le,
Thank you for visiting the site.
I am listening to “At The Cross” right now on YouTube. It sounds quite easy. But please give me time, as I am swamped with requests at the moment. I have to fulfill the earlier requests before I come to this one. Cheers!

Hi wenjie,
No problem. I will let you know once I have done “kiss goodbye”, but please wait, as there are many other requests I have yet to fulfill before I come to yours.
Thank you for visiting my blog.

Hi evan,
Thank you very much for your comment.
Did you mean the group Beyond of the late 80’s?
Can you name one title? I have a long list of requests still outstanding. So it would help if you can be more specific. Les

Hi Howard,
Thank you for dropping by.
To find the chords for a song, you have to first know in which “key” the song is written/played/sung. It is at this point where your familiarity with “scales” is important. If you know scales of different keys well, that means you you would know the “do, re, mi,…” etc. of each scale, and from the melodies, you would be able to guess better what key the song is in.
When you know the “key”, it also means you know the set of chords that come with the keys.
Familiarity with “chord progressions” and bass note “patterns” are then an added advantage at this point for you to determine what the chords are in that song.
I don’t know if this sounds too complicated. It would help if you read through my posts under the “Cheat Theories” category. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Hi Rey, I have just posted the song Dan Shu by Gary Cao Ge as requested. Please check it out! Did I reply you where I am from? I am from Malaysia. I’m sorry if I didn’t. There are many comments I have to reply to each day, so I do miss out 1 or 2 sometimes.

Hi there, would like to say Thank You for this very helpful blog…I never knew that piano can be learnt in such a way, making everything seems so much fun… Always had the idea, how much daunting it is to learn piano, looking at those music score, those scary spider finger…After checking your blog, I’ve decided to get myself an e-piano and kick start learning. At 24 hope that it’s not a bit too late… I would like to request for a song if I may, “Please don’t stop the rain” from James Morisson… Thank you for sharing your musical knowledge with everyone.

Hi ReN0, so glad to hear that my blog is helpful to you. I will put the song by James Morrison in the queue. There are a lot of requests at the moment, so it may take a while before it reaches your song. Hope you are patient enough to wait. Thank you for your support and comment.

Thank you so much for sharing!! I agree, when I by sheet music and I see all those notes I’m just demotivated to actually play and hence haven’t had practice for years! But I encountered this site and I’m motivated again!! I never practice without my laptop next to my piano as a cross-reference! So thank you!

Would I be able to request a song? I am planning on playing and recording myself sing and play for my boyfriend’s birthday on the 1st of September. I was wondering if you could do a tute on Rachael Yamagata’s “Be Be Your Love”? That would be great and my boyfriend would be amazed! I have never let him see me play or sing as I am too shy but it would be a great birthday present!

Hi rose, I will add the song to my request queue, but hope that you will be patient to wait, as the queue is really long at the moment, so it may take some time before I can get to that song. Thank you for visiting.

Hi Darling,
I’m so glad to know that my videos can motivate you! That’s a nice thought to plan ahead for your boyfriend’s birthday! Yes, I will add your request to my queue, and try to get to it as fast as I can, though it may take a while because the queue is very long at the moment.
Thank you very much for visiting!

hi les!
its me again from YouTube. i just want to say thaanks for reading my comment. and thaanks for considering my request “Singalong Song” by Khalil Fong. you can take as long as you want and i can wait. i just really want to learn that song so i can “singalong” haha;] jk. but reaally thanks a lot.

Thank you soooo much. I live in the boonies in WV. Churches here play southern gospel which I try to do. No one in my area plays so they think I am good LOL!!! I just cord. Well, now the young generation is coming in and they like the new music(praise and worship)I had no idea how to play that since I play by ear and just do cords like c-e-g- together etc. I found your site and have been working on at the cross.Thanks so much for the help. Do you have dvds or teaching material . You make it seem so easy and it is helping me but I need alot of help lol…Thanks,Brenda

Hi brenda, thank you so much for your comment! I’m glad that you find my site helpful. Have you looked under the “Cheat Theories” and “Cheat Tips” categories? I do have step by step lessons there to follow. The category button is on the right panel. You can also find them on the “Table of Contents” page. Let me know if you have any query. I would be glad to help. I do not have any DVD or separate teaching material at this stage other than what I have posted on this blog.

Hi Darling, I have just posted your request Be Be Your Love by Rachael Yamagata. When I read back your comment, I just realized that I have missed the date you wanted to use the song for. I’m so sorry about this. Have been really swamped by requests, plus I have been on traveling quite a bit lately.

Could you be so kind and do one of your tutorials for The Fray’s “Uncertainty”? I’d normally purchase my sheets, but the song isn’t to be released for some time, so I’ve no means to learn it at the moment.

I came across your blog when i was looking for the easiest version of tong hua (fairy tale). i am really impressed by all the shortcut keys you have posted.
can I have the “cheat chords” for tong hua?
that will be of great help!!
btw do you conduct lessons at anywhere?
thank you thank you. :)))

Hi Lynn, thank you for alerting me the “cheat” chords aren’t there yet.
I have just posted them up. Please look up on the “Tong Hua” post.
I do conduct lessons for those really keen to learn from me, but I’m in Kuching.

Hello,
I find your website fantastic. Like many others, i have no opportunity to learn music when I was younger. I went and learn Learn By Ear method and that helped me a lot.
Your website is fantastic in the sense that it helped me enhanced some more knowledge especially about playing chords with the right hand. I normally them with the left hand and melody with the right.
Tell me, if i play the chords with my right hand, how do i enrich the left hand, i.e not using a single finger but more fingers.
Keep up the good stuff here
Victor

Hi Victor, You can play an octave with the left hand, using the thumb and the last finger. You may also play the 5th note using your index finger on the left hand, i.e., if the left hand chord is C, the 5th note would be G, so with 3 fingers, you would be playing C-G-C. There are also many types of movements one can do with the left hand. I must admit I’m actually not very good at it. For example, you may play a note progression for a C chord, something like C-G-C-D. It is quite hard to explain by words. :p

hey, thank you so much for posting tutorials of all these songs, it really helps me get to play bits of songs and sing with it.. just what i’ve been looking for.
may i request that you do love song by khalil fong? aka fang da tong?

I dropped by here while searching piano sheet music for “Love to be loved by you”. Though you don’t have notes here, I find your blog so interesting and useful, thanks a lot!
I have a common point with you: I used to play classical but I never tell anyone that I can play piano, because if by chance they ask me to “perform” without giving me the notes, I’ll die! I started to learn piano at a church when I was 6 and finished the “Methode rose” (I think you know this piano book) in only 5 months (I took one-hour course everyday). Then I learned the books named (not exactly) “Classic 1″ and “Classic 2″ and stopped learning at church when I was 9. Then I play organ (cuz my parents couldn’t afford to buy me a piano) until now. I still can play “complicated” classical piano though I don’t really understand what I play! For organ and pop songs, it seems easier to play but I can’t remember all the chords of the song. Without the sheetmusic, I can only play the right hands and the main chord for left hand. One thing that always annoys me once I play, is that I’m just a robot playing music! I have to ask my Dad to arrange chords and choose the style for my favorite songs. (My Dad is talent in music but he doesn’t teach or allow me to learn, he says artist is poor and unhappy!!).
Can you suggest me some books to learn about the chords and other theories in music? I can read and play notes (not only notes, I mean any music symbol in a sheet) well, as I mentioned above, even with rather complicated classical songs. But I don’t have any other knowledge of music: chord arrangement, style of songs… When I try to listen to the beat, I can distinguish if the song is ballad, slow, tango or chachacha…, just because I’m familiar with the beat of the organ. I really want to self-study in a better way, with a good book for instant. I’m studying abroad and here musical courses which meet my need are expensive.
Ah, need to tell you that I’m good at studying at school (esp maths) but very stupid in music. I’m not “artist”, I don’t have a “musical ear” and I cannot feel anything from a non-lyric song. So I don’t expect to play music professionally, just want to have better understanding of playing music. My “dream” is that I can arrange chords (maybe it doesn’t sound well enough, but at least not ‘wrong’ in theory) and choose style.
Thanks for reading this too-long comment and thank you in advance for your suggestion to my problem. Wish you success with every endeavor you make, especially in your musical life!

Dear Mai,
You are right, this is the longest comment I’ve ever received! Hahaha!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experience.
I started with classical training too, till Grade 7, but couldn’t play anything without looking at notes. Haha!
Then I took up organ, and also self-learned guitar (by chords), and that’s when I began to see patterns in chords. My later short experience in drums and bass guitar also helped me a lot in piano when I went back to it by playing chords.
I do not have any book I can recommend, as my learning has been through playing in church, and listening to songs. The books I used to have on piano are those ones that were meant for my piano exams. LOL!
However, if you are keen to pick up some theories on chords, I do have my own theories on this blog. Please look under the “category” list to find my “cheat” theories, as well as some tricks and tips. Well, I call them “cheats” because I may not follow the “mainstream” way of naming the chords, or arranging the chords. I’m still learning as much as I can from the songs I listen to, interpreting them my own way, and adding on to my “cheat” theories. Haha!
I hope you will find my theories useful. You may also try out some of the links I have on the right-hand panel under “resources”. These can be helpful too.
Thank you once again for your visit and comment. Do stay in touch. Les

Hey
I think this a reAlly cool thing you got going on I used to do piano in primary school but you know small brain small attention span wasn’t my thing back then but I’ve recently become more and more interested and this site is really helping me.
I was wondering if you could do ‘trees’ by Keiko Matsui also known as Bella’s Lullaby I love it and have always wanted to learn how to play. It would be a great help if you could.
thanks Luana

Thank you Les for your reply.
I had a glance at your theory. I’ll read it through later, cuz I’m overwhelmed studying for the coming exams. Sure that I’ll let you be informed if I make progress after reading and practising your theory. Thanks again for all!

its cool for all these tricks.tq very much brother. actually im just started learning piano, and currently im looking for majesty ( here i am) by delirious. i like it very much and have always wanted to learn to play bt unable to find the song sheet. could u do me tis favor? tis is my great honor if u could shade some light on me and offer me with the chords and notes, appreciate it very much.

i just finish reading the longest comment and your longest reply..
it was quite inspiring.~i played the accordion when i was a kid~ but did not really undertstand what music is…

really like Bach~ like Glen Gould~
now i just love singing…. i can play the melody on the piano just by listening to a song a few times.. but can’t really use chords to accompany it…. was very frustrated~
so thanks a lot.. your unconventional tips help a lot… i just need to take the time to really abosorb them
all the best

Hi Luana, I searched for Bella’s Lullaby on YouTube and there were at least 3 different songs there with that name. As for Trees by Keiko Matsui, it’s very specific. However, all of them are instrumental pieces that I can’t “cheat” with. LOL! This is because in the videos, I’ve been playing extremely simplified chords and playing them on constant beats, to accompany singing. In the case of an instrumental piece, that does not work. So, for that reason, I have to skip this request. I hope this is clear. Cheers!

I am looking for some piano help with the song “ANGEL EYES” by Jeff Healey. There are other players who have piano videos on youtube, but it’s hard to tell what chords they are playing. ANY help on chords (left hand and right hand) would help out A LOT. Thank You.

Allow me to thank you for posting all the vids you have so far. It has truly helped me to play better and enjoy playing more than I have been. I’ve so far only used the ‘cheat’s for khalil fong’s ‘LoveLoveLove’ and ‘Love Song’ and WangLeeHom’s ‘Forever Love’, but the chords were great! I would never have been able to figure them out on my own. So, thank you so much hope you will keep on playing.

Hi, Landon. I’ve just posted Angel Eyes by Jeff Healey as requested. Pls check it out.
In return, I would really appreciate if you could post my URL (www.PianoCheats.com) as a link on your own blog or website or FB or anything like that. Thanks!

“Gm” means G-minor.
“Bb/C” means Bb-on-C, i.e., play Bb chord with your right hand, and the C note with your left hand.
The chord in brackets, e.g., Dm7/C means it is transitional. That is, it’s only played for a short time.

hi there, i wanna ask are you from HK? because I really wanna learn how to play those chords , i have been learning piano for 6 years and I was graduated 8th grade piano exam, but i find it difficult to find those chords, if you can,please contact me by e-mail. thz

Hi LCK. I’m from Malaysia. I had the same trouble as you until I started playing rhythm guitar, then organ, then drum, then bass guitar (actually just a little of each). The journey, which later brought me back to playing chords on piano helped me greatly in identifying chords and beats. I don’t mind sharing with you (and friends?) some tips if I visit HK one day. Check out the posts under “Cheat Theories” and “Cheat Tricks”. I do have some tips there. Cheers! And ya, thanks for the friend invite on FB!

I want to learn praise and worship on piano, especially the easy one. I’m only 12 year old and your videos really helped. I was amazed that you can make a really great sound on piano using 3 fingers. THANK YOU Godbless and Praise God!

Hi,
Your blog is awesome, and the songs you’ve played with the ‘cheats’ are really simple and the best (even though I was only interested in only 1/10 of the songs) ! Thank you for your help with the songs I learned from you.

PS: Could you help me with the cheats of “Speeding Cars - by Imogen Heap” ? Thanks for listening <3

Thank you very much for your feedback, Smt. It’s good to know that you have learned some songs from this site. I’ve added your request to the queue, but I hope you know that it will take a long time to fulfill. Thanks for your support!

I really want to thank you for this blog, it helped me so much!
I’m a drummer (I really love that), but I always wanted to play piano to, thank you so much for making it easier for me!
Now I can play drums, piano and sing in my band!

Hi syxz! Thanks for your feedback. Yes, I’m from Malaysia. Sorry for the late reply, as I have not checked my site for a long time. Been celebrating Christmas, then New Year, then the Chinese New Year! Yoohoo!

Dear leshmye,
What a superb website you have ! I am 40 years old, love music but had no formal music education. Went and pick up Play by Ear in KL for 10 lessons and now I can play without sheet with chords.. my strength is playing arpeggio with my left hand… however I am very weak with chord variations with left hand whilst playing melody on the right hand for fast pace music….because i am not aware of what other styles i can use… I hope your website can help me improve…. i saw in you tube your An Hao, Jay Chou’s , information but i could not find it in your blog here.. can you advise me where is it ? I hope to be able to play like this person in this website.. but first i think to understand what is he doing with his right hand.. he seems to be playing harmony and melody too together…. which I find it difficult to play off the memory,,, playing single note of melody from memory and feel is much easier…do you have any tips on that ?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUdHh5UCv0I

Hi VictorLiew, thanks for your feedback. The style of playing I do here for all my videos is to play as accompaniment, that is, melody is not part of it. The melody is meant to be sung along. For the song you want, please look for Secret Signal on the Index page.

Hi! First of all, you’re really great. How could someone make something like this tricks? The site is really helpful. Thank you for sharing it with the world. I really wanted to play piano and I don’t have enough time to enroll for a piano class. This is a great help really. :))

Hi Les,
I have been following your site for a few years and have seen the great help you’ve been giving to people. I myself also followed some of your tutorials to improve my hear and play skills, but I realized I needed more than just learn from your videos, so for some time I studied music harmony and composition and that helped boost those skills up to a next level. Yet, I find playing music by ear is a life-long learning path, therefore, I would like to offer my help to you. If you are interested I will help you do the same tutorials you do so that you can shorten your long queue. You can still handle the priority requests by yourself, I would only take care of the normal requests using your teaching method. Tell me if you are interested we can discuss the details.

First of all, I would like to thank you for your amazing page, it is very interesting for brushing up musical skills. Besides, I have noticed there are a music of a musical box playing in the background of every single video you posted. I really hope to know where I can get those musical box playing. I am looking forward for you reply, thanks!

Hi Kongtck, I play that “music box” sounding track, and record it on a separate channel. I do not have any notes for them though, if that’s what you are looking for. I played and recorded the melody bit by bit while listening to the original.

Hi,
I never really learn to play piano, and haven’t had problems in finding piano tutorials for songs I like except for traditional music. If you can help me with this I would so appreciate it. I wouldn’t mind learning actual notes if you have something like synthesia vs. cheat, but with real video of the keyboard then that would probably be best. Here is the link of the song I’m trying to learn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X3FEKzKP4I.

Hi Julie, sorry for the late reply. I have been really busy and been traveling quite a bit last 2 months. I won’t be able to show you notes as it is very time consuming to write notes. I usually just write out the chords instead. If you are still interested, then you may want to consider a Priority Request, as the queue for Free Request is very long.

Hi Les Hmye,
I am a guitar learner,and I am a fan of Lee hom.I think your video is very useful for me.I hope you can insist on these kind of teaching.I have shared your vedio to my best friends.They all amazed by you.I am writing for you to thank you make all this.My English is not good，please don’t care.
Thank you again!
Jayden

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